Mama M's house was on top of a high hill, with a narrow flat front yard that suddenly dipped and ran downhill to the street. The yard was covered in grass and trees, mostly tall pines. The driveway was also steep and required quite a bit of effort in walking. So Mama M would stop at the mailbox for the day's post before driving up and parking in the carport next to the kitchen door.
A family of cats lived by the Oconee River down below and just beyond the house catty-cornered across the street from Mama M. They found the kitchen carport to be quite a restaurant! When Mama M would stop at the mailbox, they would come running from the river and up the drive. Their heads would pop up over the top of the grassy hill as they waited for Mama M to drive up and park. Then they would gather under the front of the car to wait for dinner.
The old mother, Little Bit, a white shorthair, never let Mama M touch her. She would back under the front of the car whenever Mama M got near. But she did love her daily allotment of canned food, always fish flavored. And she enjoyed sunning herself on the grassy lawn whenever Mama M was at home.
Only two of the cats would dare let Mama M rub their heads: Patches, a dark torteshell, and Tiger, an orange striped. Patches would even run into the kitchen, but then right back outside. Tiger, however, became an indoor-outdoor pet, a lap-sitter with Mama M and a companion to later house cats.
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